The People’s Republic of China recognized the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 27, 1991. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on April 2, 1992. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Azerbaijan was opened on August, 1992 and the first Ambassador was appointed on December 1, 1993. The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the PRC was opened on September 3, 1993. On January 12, 1994 the first Ambassador of Azerbaijan Mr. T.Garayev presented his credentials to the Chairman of the PRC H.E. Mr. Jiang Zemin.

Chronology of high level visits and meetings

Head of States

1994 March 7-10 - The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev paid an official visit to China.

2005 March 17-19 - The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham ALiyev paid an official visit to China.

2008 August 8 - The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to China (The Opening Ceremony of XXIX Beijing Summer Olympic Games).

2014 May 20-21 - The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the 4th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence (CİCA) held in Shanghai.

2015 December 8-11 – The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid a state visit to China.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs

1994 January - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hasan Hasanov paid an official visit to China.

1996 April - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Qian Qichen paid an official visit to Azerbaijan.

2000 October - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Vilayat Guliyev paid an official visit to China.

2004 October - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Li Zhaoxing paid an official visit to Azerbaijan.

2005 February - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov paid an official visit to China.

2010 May 16-17 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Yang Jiechi paid a transit visit to Azerbaijan.

2014 June-July 30-02 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov paid an official visit to China.

2016 March 14 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov paid an official visit to China.

Inter-parliamentary relations

1996 December - The Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan Murtuz Alesgerov paid an official visit to China.

1997 August- Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Assembly paid a visit to Azerbaijan.

2000 June -The Chairman of Standing Committee of Great Hall of the People’s Republic of China Li Peng paid an official visit to Azerbaijan.

2002 August - The Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan Murtuz Alasgarov paid an official visit to China.

The head of Azerbaijan-China inter-parliamentary working group is Siyavush Novruzov.

Head of China-Azerbaijan Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group Li Caosin. (Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Assembly)

Economic cooperation

Import-export between Azerbaijan-China

Trade turnover- 611 million US dollars in 2016

Import - 301 million US dollars in 2016

Export - 310 million US dollars in 2016

Humanitarian cooperation

Visits

1997 December - Minister of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Insanov paid a visit to China.

1999 September - Attorney General of the Republic of Azerbaijan Eldar Hasanov paid a visit to the PRC.

1999 November - November- Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan Abulfas Garayev paid a visit to PRC.

1999 August - Deputy Attorney General of the PRC paid a visit to Azerbaijan.

2000 May - Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev paid a visit to the PRC.

2000 July - Deputy Minister of Culture of the PRC paid a visit to Azerbaijan.

2000 November - First Deputy Prime Minister of PRC paid a visit to Azerbaijan.

2001 July - Deputy Chairman of the Supreme People's Court of the PRC paid a visit to Azerbaijan.

2001 July - Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

2002 June - Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Misir Mardanov paid a visit to the PRC.

2013 September 11-13 – Minister of Communications and information of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Abbasov, Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev and Vice-President of SOCAR Elshad Nasirov participated in the 7th meeting of Davos Economic Forum (Summer Davos).

2014 May 20-21 - The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the 4th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence (CİCA) held in Shanghai.

2014 June-July 30-02 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov paid an official visit to China.

2014 September 10-12 - A delegation headed by the Minister of Communications and information of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Abbasov attended the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China.

2014 September 23-24 - Minister of Emergencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamaladdin Heydarov paid a visit to China.

2014 October 16 – Cu Vangyu, deputy director of China National Railroad Administration participated in the international conference on “Baku-Tbilisi-Gars railroad – new possibilities in developing the Silk Road corridor” held in Baku.

2015 March 15-18 – Ali Hasanov, assistant of the President on public-political issues, head of public-political issues Department of the President's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan met with Zhou Li, Deputy Minister of International Affairs of the Communist Party of China in Beijing.

2015 March 15-18 – Siyavush Novruzov, chairman of Azerbaijan-China inter-parliamentary working group paid a visit to China on the invitation of the Communist Party of China.

2016 March 14-22 – A delegation headed by Ramiz Rzayev, Chiarman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan paid a visit to China.

2016 May 4-5 – A book titled “of Azerbaijan’s development path” in Chinese prepared by the Strategic Research Centre under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was presented in China. Deputy director of the international relations division of the Administration of the President of Azerbaijan Arastu Habibbayli, director of the Strategic Research Centre Farhad Mammadov and chief researcher of the foreign policy analysis department of the centre Rashad Karimov paid a visit to China.

2016 May 10-13 – Fikrat Mammadov, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan paid a visit to China for participating in the meeting of the International Anti-Corruption Institutions Association.

2016 May 21-23 - Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission of Political and Legal Issues of the CPC of the PRC met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and heads of national security authorities in Baku.

2016 May 31 - June 02, Vice Premier of the PRC Zhang Gaoli visited Azerbaijan within his visit to South Caucasus region and met with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Artur Rasizadeh and Deputy Prime Minister. An agreement on technical-economic cooperation with Azerbaijan was signed within the framework of the visit.

2016 August 19-20 – A delegation headed by Jian Kemin, deputy Minister of Commerce of the PRC participated in the 6th meeting of Azerbaijan-China Trade-Economy Commission in Baku.

2017 March 30 – Charges d’affaires of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing Matin Mirza lectured on Azerbaijan realities at the Beijing Foreign Languages University.

2017 May 1 – Presentation of the Chinese edition of “Dede Gorgud” epos was presented at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Beijing.

2017 May 24 - Chinese Hainan Airlines apologized for misinformation about Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh district which was featured in its in-flight magazine High Above. The apology came after the Azerbaijani Embassy in Beijing and Azerbaijan Airlines protested against the article to China's Foreign Ministry and Hainan Airlines and demanded to remove copies of the magazine`s false edition from circulation. In a response letter, High Above magazine apologized to the Azerbaijani Embassy. The magazine said the author did not properly explore the facts when writing the article. “The position of the author does not reflect the position of Hainan Airlines and High Above magazine." The magazine said all printed and electronic copies of the magazine were removed from circulation, adding that they will be attentive in order to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Cultural-humanitarian events

1993 - In accordance with the agreement between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Embassy of People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Azerbaijan from Urumgi province was sent 1 plane of humanitarian assistance.

1995 April 12 - Beijing International Exhibition Center held an exhibition of works by Azerbaijani painter Sattar Bahlulzade.

1996 May - The young Chinese artist Tzen Yanyan was in Baku at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

1996 - The ensemble headed by the Singer of Azerbaijan Mrs.Zeynab Khanlarova performed in Beijing and China's eastern regions.

1997 October 4-10 - The dance ensemble of Ninksyan and Quycou province performed in Baku and Salyan region of Azerbaijan.

2002 June 6 - China-Azerbaijan Friendship Society was founded.

2006 December 26 - At the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the PRC was founded "Shusha" cultural center.

2008 August 10 - Cultural days of Azerbaijan held in Beijing.

2008 December 7 - A groundbreaking ceremony of the high school was held in the China’s Sichuan province. Azerbaijan provided financial assistance in the amount of 1 million U.S. dollars to the victims of earthquake in China's provinces.

2010 May 1 - The pavilion at the World Exhibition EXPO 2010 in Shanghai operated.

2011 October 16-23 - International Cultural Festival was held in Chinese universities.

2012 March 29 - In Dayutai Government residence, with the organizational support of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Chinese Foreign Ministry has organized a reception to the 20th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China.

2012 April 20- At the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia was held a Conference to the 20th year anniversary of of diplomatic relations.

2012 June 19- Presentation of the magazine “IRS”in Chinese held in China. On the same day on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China was issued postage stamp and silver coin with the image of the two heads of State.

2012 December 6 - Caoyang park in China has opened a bust of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi.

2012 December 10-14 - Cultural days of China held in Azerbaijan.

2012 November 23 - Representatives of the Communist Party of China attended at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Baku.

2013 March 11-19 - “Beautiful Girls” group of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous province participated on the "Mugham" music festival in Azerbaijan.

2013 April 11-13 - Chinese graduates participated in the forum of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations graduates organized under the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev.

2013 May 6 - Russia, Eastern Europe and the Central Asia Institute of the China held an international conference dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev.

2013 August 6 - Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan presented a book of the selected speeches of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev covering the period from 2003 to 2013 translated into Chinese.

2013 December 10 - In cooperation with the Embassy of Azerbaijan and the China Foundation for International Studies was presented a book “Heydar Aliyev” at the office of the Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries.

2014 December 17 – The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Beijing organized the presentation of the Chinese edition of the website of the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (Azertag) www.azertag.az/chn/.

2015 September 15 – A memorandum on cooperation between national libraries of Azerbaijan and China was signed.

2016 April 25-27 – Liuy Tzyanchun, chairman of the Silk Road International Trade Chamber from China participated in the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations held in Baku.

2016 June 3 – Presentation of the book by the Chairman of the PRC Xi Jinping titled “Xi Jinping: State management” was organized at the Management Academy under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

2016 June 24 – Confucius centre was opened at the Azerbaijan Languages University in Baku.

2016 July 3 – Baku-Urumqi-Guanzhou flight of the China Southern Airlines was opened.

2016 November 8 – Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Latif Gandilov was honored the title of honorary professor of Beijing Foreign Languages University.

2017 May 10 – A concert program dedicated to the anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Azerbaijan-China diplomatic relations was held at the National Conservatory of China in Beijing.

Legal basis

Agreements signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China:

2. Trade and economic agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (1993)

3. Agreement between the Government of the PRC and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on visa-free tourist group trips. (4 January 1994).

4. Agreement between the Government of the PRC and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on visa-free official travel. (4 January 1994)

5. Consular Convention between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan. (4 January 1994).

6. Joint Statement on the foundations of friendly relations between China and Azerbaijan. (7 March 1994)

7. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on scientific-technical cooperation. (March 1994)

8. Agreement on cultural cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (7 March 1994)

9. Agreement on cooperation in the sphere of tourism between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (7 March 1994)

10. Agreement on cooperation in the field of health and medical science between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (7 March 1994)

11. Agreement on cooperation in the field of cinematography, radio and television between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (March 1994)

12. Joint Declaration between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan. (17 March 2005)

13. Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on mutual assistance in customs matters.(17 march 2005)

14. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on trade and economic cooperation. (17 March 2005)

15. Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (17 March 2005)

16. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Information Industry of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (17 March 2005)

17. Cooperation Agreement between China Central Television and Azerbaijan Republic National Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. (17 March 2005)

18. The agreement between China Youth Federation and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan on cooperation in the field of youth affairs.(17 March 2005)

18. Technical and sport cooperation Agreement between the Chinese Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (17 March 2005)

19. The agreement on the provision of a grant of military assistance from Chinese side to the Azerbaijan, between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Defense of People's Republic of China. (9 December 2010)

20. Additional Protocol to the Agreement on the implementation of the provision of a grant of military assistance from Chinese side to the Azerbaijan, between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Defense of People's Republic of China. (27 July 2011)

21. Protocol on Cooperation in the field of culture between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China for 2011-2015 years. (25 May 2011)

22. Protocol of the 1st meeting of the working group on trade and economic cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (July 18, 2011)

23. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on technical and economic cooperation. (18 July 2011)

24. Protocol of the 4th meeting of the intergovernmental commission on Azerbaijan-China trade and economic cooperation. (July 18, 2011)

25. Agreement on cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Azerbaijan and the Federation of Industry and Commerce of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (2 September 2011)

26. Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. (June 9, 2012)

27. Protocol on the establishment of a working group on trade and economic cooperation under the Azerbaijan-China intergovernmental trade and economic commission between the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.(9 June 2012)

28. Memorandum of Understanding between the Sino-European Association of Technical and Economic Cooperation and the Foundation for Export and Investment Promotion Azerbaijan. (June 9, 2012)

29. Agreement on cooperation in the field of education between the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China for 2012-2015. (July 17, 2012)

30. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the use of land for the construction of the building of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing. (2013)

31. Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China. (2013)

32. Protocol of the second meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. (2013)

33. Memorandum of Cooperation between the Civil Service Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China in the area of civil service and human resources development. (2013)

34. Memorandum of Understanding between the State Civil Aviation Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Civil Aviation Administration of the People’s Republic of China. (2013)

35. Memorandum of Understanding between the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China. (2013)

36. Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China. (2013)

37. Memorandum of Understanding between the Foundation for Export and Investment Promotion Azerbaijan and China Committee for Promotion of International Trade. (2013)

38. Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China. (8 December 2014)

39. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China on cooperation in the field of emergency management. (23 September 2014)

40. Memorandum of Understanding on the development of bilateral ties between the University "ADA" and Beijing Language and Culture University. (July 3, 2014)

41. Supplementary Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on exploitation of the land allotted for the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing (February 16, 2015)

42. Supplementary Protocol to the Agreement between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Defense of the People’s Republic of China on military assistance by the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Azerbaijan. (February 2, 2015)

43. Memorandum of Understanding between the State Committee on Securities of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Regulation Commission on Securities of China on regulating the securities and futures market. (May 19, 2015)

44. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China on promoting bilateral economic cooperation. (December 10, 2015)

45. Memorandum of Understanding in the field of transportation between the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

46. Agreement of cooperation in the field of education covering the years of 2016-2019 between the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

47. Memorandum of Understanding on joint promotion of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

48. Agreement on civil aviation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

49. Agreement on fitosanitary between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

50. Contract on exchange of sentenced persons between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

51. Memorandum of Understanding between the State Agency of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Department of Energetic of the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

52. Joint Declaration on development and deepening the relations of friendship and cooperation the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

53. Agreement on cooperation in the field of railroad cooperation between the “Azerbaijani Railway” Closed Joint Stock Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. (December 10, 2015)

54. Agreement on technical-economic cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. (June 1, 2016)

55. Memorandum of Understanding for granting the Republic of Azerbaijan the status of a partner for dialogue with Shanghai Cooperation Organization was signed within the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov. (14 March, 2016)

56. Memorandum of Understanding between the State Agency of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Department of Energetic of the People’s Republic of China. (March 10, 2016)

57. Memorandum on cooperation between the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China. (March 17, 2016)

58. Memorandum on cooperation and joint communiqué between the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Security Ministry of the People’s Republic of China. (May 23, 2016)

59. Memorandum on mutual understanding between SOCAR and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in the field of oil-gas and petro-chemicals. (May 31, 2016)

60. Agreement on technical-economic cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. (May 31, 2016)

61. Protocol was signed within the 6th meeting of the Azerbaijan-China intergovernmental trade-economic cooperation Commission. (19-20 August, 2016)

62. Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Technical Regulation, Metrology, Standardization and Conformity Assessment to boost non-oil export potential. The document was signed by chairman of Azerbaijan State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents Ramiz Hasanov and Vice Minister of the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Wu Qinghai in Beijing.

63. Service Agreement on the preliminary detailed engineering for the gas processing and polyethylene petrochemical complex on SOCAR GPC project was signed by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Wang Yilin and Executive Director of China Development Bank Hu Huaibang.